It’s surprising that there were so many interviews with someone who had a certain notoriety for being private. He was contractually obligated to promote his films but didn’t enjoy the interview process. In fact one of the interviewers, whose work is in the book, said that Kubrick wanted to check what was written before it was published. Of course the writer agreed. Why wouldn’t you want to please one of the twentieth century’s greatest film makers.

His career seemed to parallel another favourite director of mine, David Lynch. They both self-financed their early films, they both made ‘studio films’, Dune for Lynch and Spartacus for Kubrick, then they were both able to make films as they wished.

I was a little disappointed that The Shining wasn’t mentioned in interviews more. Thankfully the book ends well with the last 3 interviews detailing the making of Full Metal Jacket.

Sir Les PattersonThe online archive of Sir Leslie Colin Patterson. Wit, sage, raconteur, late Cultural Attaché to the Court of St James and Chairperson of the Australian Chapter of the International Cheese Board.